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YOU BE GOD
Ayò Olúrántí
YOU BE GOD
[DIRGE]
for SATB Choir & African Percussion
Ayò Olúrántí
Copyright©Oluranti 2016
You be God! You no be man o! Jehovah Nissi,
You be Alpha and Omega, number wanu o, and the lasti o.
You are God! You are not man! Jehovah my banner,
You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the last.
To
Ayò Adéùsì
Clad in his red cassock and white surplice, holding his conducting baton and looking fresh, his body lay cold in
his casket. It was the final lap of his trip home. The brass band played a solemn march, leading the procession
to his final place of abode. And as he was lowered down and committed to mother earth, his bereaved spouse,
with deep emotions, eulogized God Almighty for the gift of this gallant soldier to mankind.
This work, in total submission to the unquestionable sovereignty of God Almighty, is a 'dirge' that captures
this final scene of Ayò Adéùsì’s journey home. Sleep on beloved!
PERFORMANCE NOTES
1. All pulses carry the same status. Therefore, there are neither strong nor weak beats despite the specified 12/8‐time
signature
2. The music should be accompanied with uniform body movements, by swinging slightly from right to left (or vice‐versa as
the case may be).
3. The piece can be performed without the flute part in which case the vocal silence at mm.20 and 29 functions as musical
(structural) elements that must be observed.
4. The egwu amala time line rhythm in the rattle line (from m.38, i.e. rehearsal mark C) should be clearly articulated and
prominent but without over‐shadowing the percussion ensemble sound.
5. The sound world typical of the percussion section of Igbo traditional music (from south eastern Nigeria) is principal to
this work in terms of conception. Therefore, the work should be accompanied, as much as possible, with the Igbo
musical instruments specified in the score. They are described below.
6. The ichaka is the Igbo rattle instrument. It is principally a polished gourd around which
a net of beads or cowrie shells are wound. Both types can be used and the size does
not matter. They are to be hand‐beaten. The piercing sound of the ichaka should be
balanced with the rest of the ensemble.
7. The ogene, about eight inches long, and the olu, about four feet long, are the two gong types used in Igbo
traditional music. These gongs are capable of producing multiple tones, depending on which part is struck with
the beater/mallet. This work requires only three tone levels:
8. The ekwe is a two‐pitch slit drum made from a hollowed out tree trunk and played
with beaters (wooden mallet or stick). The beaters can be rubber‐wrapped (for mellow
tones) or unwrapped (for bright tones). The ekwe part is scored for two tones:
Temple blocks or wood blocks can be used if the ekwe drum is unavailable.
9. Udu, meaning pot in Igbo, is a bass musical source in Igbo traditional music. It is a percussion
instrument made out of clay and played with a fan‐like beater at the small open mouth at the top.
For this work, two tones pitched as ‘bass’ and ‘tenor’ are required:
Other ‘bass’ and ‘tenor’ sounding hand beaten drums, which can be substituted for the udu:
Àkúbà / Àgbámọ́lẹ̀ Ògìdó Kpàlóngò (peg drum)
10. This music should NOT be accompanied with the drum kit/set or jazz drum set.
To Ayo Adeusi
10 15
Fl.
Rt
mf
Gg.
Ek
p
Ud
mp
S.
You be God, You no be man o, You be God, You no be man o, Je ho va Ni ssi, You be God
A.
T.
B.
Copyright©Oluranti 2016
2
20 A
Fl.
fp
Rt
Gg.
p
Ek
Ud
p
mp
S.
You be God, You be God, You no be man o You be God, You no be man o,
mp
A.
T.
B.
3
25
Fl.
f
Rt
Gg.
Ek
Ud
S.
You be God, You no be man o, Je ho va Ni ssi, You be God You be God, You be God, You no be man o
A.
T.
B.
4
B 30
gl
Fl.
iss
.
p mp
Rt
Gg.
mp
Ek
mp
Ud
mp
You be God, You no be man o
S.
You be God o You be God You no be man o Je ho vah Ni ssi, You be God
mp
A.
mp
T.
mp
B.
Fl.
Rt
mp
Gg.
Ek
Ud
mp
S.
You be God You be God You no be man o You be Al pha and O me ga num ber wa nu o and de
p
A.
p
T.
p
B.
Rt
Gg.
Ek
Ud
S.
p
A.
o, O me ga eh o o A
p
T.
p
B.
Fl.
Rt
Gg.
Ek
Ud
p mp mf
S.
A lpha O me ga A lpha O me ga
mp mf
A.
mp mf
T.
God, You be God, You be God, You be God, You be God, You be God, You be God, You be God, You be
mp mf
B.
Num ber wan, and the last Num ber wan, and the last Num ber wan, and the last, Num ber wan, and the last,
8
Fl.
Rt
Gg.
Ek
Ud
ff
f
S.
f
ff
A.
f
ff
T.
God, Num ber wan, Num ber wan, Num ber wan, You be God, Num ber wan, and the last You be God, You be
ff
f
B.
Num ber wan, and the last You be God, You be God, Num ber wan, and the last You be God, You be
9
55 60
Fl.
mp
Rt
f p mf
Gg.
Ek
p p
Ud
p
f
mp
S.
You be God o
mp
A.
mp
T.
Go di o. God o
mp
B.
Go di o. God o
10
E 65
gli
ss.
Fl.
p mf p
Rt
Gg.
p
Ek
Ud
mf p
p
S.
p mf p
A.
p mf p
T.
mf p
p
B.
You be God You no be man o You be God You no be man o You be God You no be
11
70
Fl.
pp ppp
Rt
Gg.
Ek
Ud
pp ppp
S.
ma nu o
pp ppp
A.
ma nu o
pp ppp
T.
ma nu o
pp ppp
B.
ma nu o